2021 NFL Draft: Tutu Atwell needs more than dynamics to his game
By Cory Kinnan
2021 NFL Draft outlook for Tutu Atwell
Despite some of these inconsistencies and traits that are not evident in his tape, Atwell still has the potential to rise into a top-50 pick given his speed. When it is all said and done, he could even slide into the first round after Marquise Brown set a precedent for smaller receivers to still get drafted highly in the draft.
The NFL is transitioning to a league that cares about the ability to get open and separate rather than the size of a wide receiver’s catch radius. With Atwell’s top end speed and ability to make plays with the ball in his hands after the catch, NFL teams will find a role for him, even if it is not in the traditional sense of what a wide receiver has been.
Dalton Miller of Pro Football Network thinks Atwell has all of the makings of a day-two NFL Draft prospect as well, stating:
"“It would behoove Atwell to gain 10 or 15 pounds to gain some strength, even if it means sacrificing a bit of speed overall. He’ll still most likely be a sub-4.4 40 guy, and his on-field agility speaks for itself. If he can end up around Hamler’s size overall and clean up his fumbles and drops even just a little, there is a very good chance Atwell ends up hearing his name called on day two. Because the rumors are, in fact, true. Speed kills.”"
Next. 2021 NFL Mock Draft: Dolphins land haul, Jets all in for Trevor Lawrence. dark
He’s dynamic, he’s fast, and he can bust angles in order to turn the corner on defenses. The NFL Scouting Combine will show just how fast he is, but there is little doubt he will slip out of the first two days of the 2021 NFL Draft, and has the potential to wow a ton of NFL scouts and general managers. If he can show he can win over the top, outside the numbers, and that he can work back overtop of defensive backs, then he can climb even higher.